> Franny sighed to herself, the lonesome march home covered in stains as the sun dipped overhead
> Hungry kids waiting for a special dinner at home she couldn’t give, help with homework she couldn’t offer in her absence
> And all she had to show for it was a gnarled, grass-stinking uniform and a single rose in hand
> Spun between her fingers the thorns harmlessly scratched her plastic skin, her narrow feet tip-tapping on the pavement as she made her way home
> She’d taken a special day for the Flaggs, for the Mister and Missus and dropped the ball (or bouquet) entirely
> The only solace she could take was thrusting a hand into her purse over and over, fingers running over the pair of tickets inside, proof to her being at least somewhat able to do her job
> She wanted to cry, meekly picking her head up to check intersections before crossing, the humid air doing enough to wet her face and melt the chlorophyll and dirt deeper into her skirt
> The boys would surely be disappointed, and they’d been doing excellently in the intermingling weeks their sister was visiting too
> Sighing again Franny turned the last corner towards the Flagg’s townhouse, the cramped, sprightly house no doubt empty of its family
> Franny would set what she *did* have down and sit, waiting for the others to come home
> Slipping a key into the door she heard the idle chatter of some people, not sure if, deep from the kitchen, who it was or what they were discussing
> Doubtless in her mind it was the Mister and Missus, their plans canceled to take care of their tardy android
> Taking a breath she slipped away to the bathroom to wash her hands properly and wipe away the smudges of spilt grass on her face
> Inside, staring into the mirror and her own, frazzled eyes she dipped her head again
> A blade or two of grass shook free from her hair, the poor nandroid trying to comb more free with her hands to no avail
> With another breath she snatched the decorative vase and filled it with water, dropping the sole rose inside to present to her owners
> ”Ma’am, Sir,” she started, turning into the kitchen, “I’m terribly sorry-”
> ”Franny!”
> The twins grabbed each of her legs as she marched to the kitchen table, Franny’s eyes meeting with the eldest sister, phone in hand
> ”M-Miss, is everything-”
> ”Everything’s good,” she winked, turning back to the handset. “Yeah and could we do another large, pepperoni? Perfec! Yep, yep- that’ll be all. Buh-bye.”
> ”We have something for you!”
> Tumbling over themselves the twins raced up to their shared room to fetch their hidden prize, their stomping upstairs bleeding down to the kitchen
> ”They have something for you, heh. Now, uh- is everything okay?”
> ”W-Well, miss, I had an unfortunate accident while I was out getting the flowers for your Mother and Father, and well- I’m terribly sorry to-”